New Saskatchewan draws invite Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand candidates

Saskatchewan held new draws through its Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand immigration sub-categories May 22, producing a total of 325 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.

Of that total, 221 invitations went to Occupation In-Demand candidates and 104 went to candidates in Saskatchewan's Express Entry sub-category.

Both sub-categories are key components of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), which allows Saskatchewan to nominate economic immigration candidates who meet specific labour needs in the province.

Immigration is a key driver of population and labour force growth in Saskatchewan, which has welcomed more than 108,000 newcomers from 170 countries since 2007.

A key eligibility requirement for both the Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories of the SINP is work experience in one of the 19 occupations that are currently listed as in-demand in the province.

Candidates, however, are not required to have a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer.

The SINP has now issued 854 invitations through its Occupation In-Demand sub-category so far in 2019 and 814 through its Express Entry sub-category, which is linked to the federal Express Entry system.

Find out if you are eligible to enter Canada's Express Entry Pool

Express Entry manages the pool of candidates for the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class, which are three of Canada's main economic immigration programs.

Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which effectively bumps them up to the front of the line for an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence from the Government of Canada.

Candidates in the Occupation In-Demand sub-category who receive a provincial nomination have their applications for Canadian permanent residence processed outside the Express Entry system.

In order to be considered for either sub-category, interested candidates must register an Expression of Interest (EOI) under the SINP's International Skilled Worker Category.

Eligible candidates receive a score out of 100 based on factors including their education, skilled work experience, proficiency in English or French and connections to Saskatchewan.

The highest-scoring candidates in both sub-categories are then invited through regular draws from the pool.

The lowest score among both Express Entry and the Occupation In-Demand candidates invited in the May 22 draw was 82.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs